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Haass requires implementation not Working Group - McGuinness

Speaking today after the meeting of party leaders in Stormont to discuss
the Haass proposals, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said:

“Today’s
meeting was not about analysing the 344 elements of the Haass
proposals. What we need to know is where unionist political leaders are
on the entire package. This is a real test for the political process. We
need to see progress in the immediate term.

“At today’s meeting
we made it clear our opposition to renegotiation or time wasting through
the establishment of some sort of working group. We went through that
with the failed CSI process for three years. What is required and what
people want to see is implementation.

“The elephant in the room
and the key to positive movement is whether or not unionist political
leaders are prepared to confront the extreme elements within their
community who they are letting set their agenda on Haass to date and
former members of the RUC and other Crown forces lobbying the DUP and
the UUP to prevent truth recovery processes which are victim centred.

“If
they do this then it is my belief that we can reach agreement and press
ahead with implementation. I am ready and willing to move forward with
all of the other party leaders. The Haass architecture allows this to
happen.”